Mandevilla plant named ‘Sunpa 1463’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Sunpa 1463’, characterized by its semi-climbing plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; relatively large leaves; early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; and large red-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNPA 1463’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofMandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunpa 1463’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new semi-climbing and freely branchingMandevilla plants with freely flowering habit and large attractiveflowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination inHigashiomi, Shiga, Japan in May, 2009 of a proprietary selection ofMandevilla hybrida identified as code number 04M11-2, not patented, asthe female, or seed parent with a proprietary selection of Mandevillahybrida identified as code number M37-1, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inHigashiomi, Shiga, Japan in September, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since March, 2011 has shown thatthe unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunpa 1463’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Sunpa 1463’ as a new and distinct Mandevillaplant:

-   -   1. Semi-climbing plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Relatively large leaves.    -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   6. Long flowering period.    -   7. Large red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla have larger flowers than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily fromplants of the male parent selection in flower size as plants of the newMandevilla have larger flowers than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the Mandevillahybrida ‘Sunparaoros’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,207. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Mandevilla differ fromplants of ‘Sunparaoros’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla have longer stems than plants of        ‘Sunparaoros’.    -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla have larger and more pubescent        leaves than plants of ‘Sunparaoros’.    -   3. Flower petals of plants of the new Mandevilla are obovate and        not imbricate whereas flower petals of plants of ‘Sunparaoros’        are orbicular and imbricate.    -   4. Plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘Sunparaoros’ differ in        flower color as plants of ‘Sunparaoros’ have lighter red-colored        flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunpa 1463’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Sunpa 1463’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containersin an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Mandevilla production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C. and nighttemperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were six months old when thephotographs and detailed description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla hybrida ‘Sunpa 1463’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla            hybrida identified as code number 04M11-2, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla            hybrida identified as code number M37-1, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at temperatures            about 23° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About five to six            weeks at temperatures about 23° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; typically light brown in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Semi-climbing plant habit; vigorous            growth habit; freely branching habit.        -   Plant height (with support).—About 182 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 32 cm. Diameter:            About 3 mm. Internode length: About 7.5 cm. Strength:            Strong, flexible. Texture: Pubescent, rough. Color,            developing: Close to 145A; slightly tinged with close to            179B. Color, fully developed: Close to 199A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 7.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 4.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Broadly elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Pubescent, leathery,            rough; glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Densely pubescent,            leathery, rough; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137D; venation,            close to 145B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 138B; venation, close to 145C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 8.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.7 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single salverform flowers arranged in            axillary racemes; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly;            freely flowering habit with about four to seven flowers per            inflorescence and about 108 flowers developing per plant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants            begin flowering about six weeks after planting; long            flowering period, plants flower continuously from early            summer until late autumn in Japan.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About seven to ten days;            flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 8.9 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.            Shape: Rhombic. Color: Distally, close to 53A; mid-section,            close to 53B with stripes, close to 11D; proximally, close            to 1D and 150C.        -   Flowers.—Appearance: Salverform; flared trumpet, corolla            fused and five-parted; flowers roughly star-shaped.            Diameter: About 9.8 cm. Depth (length): About 7.8 cm. Throat            diameter: About 2.1 cm. Tube length: About 3.9 cm. Tube            diameter, proximally: About 3.8 mm.        -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a            single whorl and fused towards the base into an elongated            tube; petal lobes not imbricate. Petal lobe length: About            4.5 cm. Petal lobe width: About 3.6 cm. Petal lobe shape:            Obovate, asymmetrical. Petal lobe apex: Acuminate. Petal            lobe margin: Entire; slightly undulate and slightly            recurving. Petal lobe texture and luster, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Petal lobe texture and luster,            lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Petal lobe, when opening, upper surface: Close to 53A. Petal            lobe, when opening, lower surface: Close to 46A. Petal lobe,            fully opened, upper surface: Close to 46A; venation, close            to 53A; color does not change with development. Petal lobe,            fully opened, lower surface: Close to 46A; proximal stripes,            close to N155B. Throat: Distally, close to N25C and 45A;            proximally, close to N25C; venation, close to N25A. Tube:            Distally, close to 53C with stripes, close to 4D;            mid-section, close to 4D; proximally, close to 149D.        -   Calyx.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a            single whorl, fused at the base; calyx, star-shaped. Sepal            length: About 6.8 mm. Sepal width: About 2.3 mm. Sepal            shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acuminate. Sepal margin:            Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Sepal color, upper surface: Distally, close to            145C; proximally, close to 145B. Sepal color, lower surface:            Distally, close to 145B overlain with close to 179A to 179B;            proximally, close to 145A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Texture: Glabrous; rough. Aspect: Upright to outwardly.            Color: Close to 143B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 2.2 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Aspect: Upright to outwardly.            Color: Close to 145A; with development, slightly overlain            with close to 179B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:            Typically five; filaments fused to corolla; anthers,            connivent. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther size: About 1.5            mm by 8.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 18B. Pollen amount:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to NN155A. Pistils: Quantity:            Typically one. Pistil length: About 2.2 cm. Style color:            Close to 145C. Stigma shape: Globose. Stigma color: Close to            145B. Ovary color: Close to 144C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed on plants of the new Mandevilla.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not    been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Mandevilla plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been observed    to tolerate wind, rain and temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to    about 30° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘Sunpa 1463’as illustrated and described.